Plans for July 7 memorial unveiled

Tuesday 1 January 2008 00:08 BST

Families of those killed in the July 7 London bombings have unveiled plans for a memorial of 52 pillars - each representing an innocent victim of the atrocity.

Each stele will be grouped together in four interlinking clusters, representing the four separate attacks that took place on the same day in July 2005. Every three-metre column will be inscribed with the date, time and location of the incident that the cluster symbolises.

The permanent £1 million stainless steel memorial will be erected in Hyde Park close to Park Lane.

A bereaved relative explained why he favoured stainless steel for the memorial, saying it was because it was as "indestructible as the memories we have of them (those killed)".

A plaque detailing the names of the 52 innocent victims of the London bombings will be situated in the grass banks at the far eastern end of the memorial.

Antony Gormley, creator of the Angel of the North, has acted as an independent adviser for the memorial, to be unveiled on July 7 next year.

The casting process means that despite being formed from the same mould, each 15-18cm square column will be unique. Visitors will be able to wander around the columns.

Grahame Russell, who lost his son Philip at Tavistock Square, said: "A lot of families' ideas were included in the design it's very different. The stelae remind me that prior to July 7 these 52 people that died stood tall in this world, the material itself is as indestructible as the memories we have of them. We wanted a proper memorial so we have taken our time."

Mr Gormley said of the design: "Using the language of architecture to make order out of chaos, this monument is an opportunity for loss victims to be in contact with the living through a process of discovery, where the memorial's structure becomes complete through the presence and body language of the curious visitor."

The design team for the memorial were Ove Arup & Partners, architects Carmody Groarke and landscape architects Colvin & Moggridge. A planning application for the design was submitted to Westminster City Council today and the public will be able to view the design on its website next week.